Pei Shimin, originally named Pei Yunqing, also known as Pei Deming, was a famous Zisha artist during the Republic of China era. He apprenticed under his brother-in-law, Jiang Zuchen, to learn the art of Zisha teapot making in his early years. Later, he surpassed his master and became the second-generation "Lion Ball King."

Although in the eyes of ordinary people, Pei Shimin's fame does not match that of Gu Jingzhou, the Zisha teapots he crafted command high prices in the market, especially the Lion Ball series, with each pot easily exceeding a million. Since Pei Hongquan inherited the title of the Lion Ball King, perhaps the teapots he makes don't all reach a million, but his finest, master-crafted pots often see many vying for them at prices of five or six hundred thousand.

If he were to use Shihu as the clay body and meticulously craft two or three pots of the Great Red Robe level, due to the scarcity and preciousness of Shihu, combined with his own craftsmanship and the golden brand of the Lion Ball King, exceeding a million per pot would likely be no issue. Therefore, even if the Shihu became a bit more expensive, it would still be well within his means. He has deep pockets and simply doesn't concern himself with such money.

Furthermore, for certain masters, wealth and money are no longer the primary concerns. Their greatest aspiration is probably to gather the finest materials and create masterworks that can be passed down through generations.

Of course, a degree of ambition is also involved. After all, in 1996, Master Gu Jingzhou, revered as the grandmaster of Zisha artistry, passed away, leaving the Zisha world without a guiding light, sorely lacking a leading figure.

As the saying goes, when Qin lost its deer, the world scrambled for it.

Compared to the masters of antiquity, the number of modern masters has at least multiplied several times over. To put it bluntly, scarcity creates value; when things become abundant, they lose some of their worth—and masters are no exception.

So, who among those with ambition, or perhaps drive, wouldn't wish to reach the summit and become the new grandmaster?

Pei Hongquan has to admit that he harbors such aspirations to some extent, but this pursuit of supremacy cannot be self-proclaimed; it must be validated by tangible achievements to earn general recognition.

Therefore, upon seeing superb material like Shihu, Pei Hongquan certainly would not let the opportunity pass him by.

Simultaneously, before Wang Guan could utter his agreement or refusal, Xing Qiu, standing nearby, interjected impatiently, "The material isn't for sale; I'll just give it to you..."

"What?"

In an instant, both Wang Guan and Pei Hongquan were stunned.

Wang Guan, in particular, looked at Xing Qiu with utter bewilderment, unsure which circuit in his friend's brain had shorted, or if the intense heat of the day had fried his mind into spouting nonsense.

Pei Hongquan was much the same; after his surprise, he chuckled and shook his head. "Young friend, you jest. How could I possibly accept such a valuable gift for free..."

"You can..."

"Wait, let's discuss something."

Before Xing Qiu could finish speaking, Wang Guan grabbed him, then offered Pei Hongquan an awkward smile before dragging Xing Qiu to a corner and whispering fiercely, "What are you doing? Having a sudden change of heart and deciding to become a purse-opening prodigy? Even if you want to do a good deed, you have to know who you're dealing with—this man doesn't lack money in the slightest."

"That's exactly why I'm doing it," Xing Qiu whispered back. "He's her father..."

"Who?" Wang Guan was momentarily confused.

"Her!" Xing Qiu quickly clarified. "My goddess! Didn't I ever tell you her surname is Pei?"

"You absolutely never mentioned it." At this, Wang Guan instantly understood why Xing Qiu was acting so strangely; there was a reason behind it.

"It's not too late to say it now. Give him the material, and I'll reimburse you later," Xing Qiu said excitedly. "It's truly a case of finding something you didn't even know you were looking for."

"Don't celebrate too soon. Even if you give it away for free, he won't see you as a son-in-law. On the contrary, he'll think you've lost your mind." Wang Guan chuckled. "Or perhaps he'll think you're being overly attentive for ulterior motives. Hmm, now that I think about it, that's true—you are eyeing his daughter..."

"Nonsense."

At this moment, Xing Qiu quietly glanced at Pei Hongquan, vaguely sensing that Wang Guan might have hit the nail on the head. In a society that values utility, giving a stranger a gift worth millions upon first meeting—unless one is completely brainless—would surely make anyone wonder about their true intentions.

Suddenly, Xing Qiu became conflicted. "Then what do you suggest I do?"

"Just wing it," Wang Guan replied with a slight smile. "Either you run over there right now and pretend to be his daughter's boyfriend while presenting the gift. However, the success rate for that might be low, with a high chance of failure. Though, there is a one percent chance he'll be delighted and immediately adopt you as his son-in-law."

"Get lost!"

Xing Qiu snapped back irritably. "Always coming up with terrible ideas."

"Then you figure it out yourself," Wang Guan said, now standing aloof. He also reminded him, "We've been whispering for three minutes now. If you don't go over soon, he's going to get impatient. If you don't want your first impression to plummet, you need to decide quickly."

"Easy for you to say..." Xing Qiu hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "The material is yours, you make the decision."

"Why the sudden change of mind?" Wang Guan was startled. "Your face changes faster than the weather."

"I have to change it," Xing Qiu admitted helplessly. "Like you said, I have no standing to offer such a gift; he definitely won't accept it. Rather than have him refuse, it's better not to offer it at all."

"Good that you understand," Wang Guan smiled, patted Xing Qiu's shoulder, and then consoled him, "But don't be too disappointed, watch my move..."

"Master Pei!"

As he spoke, Wang Guan walked back, his face beaming. "We've discussed it, and we've decided to give this piece of Shihu to you, but we do have one small request."

A request is better than none; no request would be suspicious.

With this thought, Pei Hongquan immediately smiled. "What request? Let's hear it."

"The reason I said earlier it wasn't for sale was simply because I wanted to use the Shihu to make a pot myself," Wang Guan chuckled lightly. "But my friend reminded me that since the ultimate goal is the pot, exchanging the Shihu for a pot might be a faster route..."

"Oh?"

Hearing this, Pei Hongquan immediately understood. He weighed the matter internally, then smiled. "I understand what you mean, young friend. What kind of pots are you hoping for?"

"That's not something that can be said definitively," Wang Guan smiled softly. "I wonder if we have the honor of touring Master Pei's collection? If we spot something we like, and you are willing to part with it, you can give it to us. If you're reluctant, we can keep looking until we are both satisfied."

Hearing this, Xing Qiu's eyes lit up, and he immediately looked expectantly at Pei Hongquan, wishing he could nod in agreement on his behalf. Meanwhile, Pei Hongquan thought it over and nodded with a smile. "Since that is the case, please allow you two young friends to accompany me."

"Fantastic..." Xing Qiu was overjoyed, clutching the Shihu and heading out as if afraid Pei Hongquan might change his mind.

Seeing this, Wang Guan naturally covered for him, explaining, "My friend here has always been extremely fond of Zisha teapots, and hearing that he might appreciate the Master's work, he's already quite eager."

This was an indirect way of complimenting the quality of their own items, and Pei Hongquan was naturally delighted, immediately leading the two back home.

Pei Hongquan’s home was in the suburbs—a relatively elegant small villa.

It was situated beside a lake, surrounded by dense woods and towering bamboos, creating an exceptionally beautiful environment. After leading the two into the living room, Pei Hongquan ordered tea to be served, then smiled. "The collection room is a bit messy; please excuse me while I tidy it up before I invite you in for a look."

The two nodded in understanding. After watching Pei Hongquan leave, Xing Qiu immediately looked around, seemingly searching for someone's figure.

"The person isn't in Huangzhou, is he?" Wang Guan pouted. "Staring won't magically conjure her here."

"I'm surveying the terrain," Xing Qiu grinned. "One must know oneself and the enemy to secure the spoils of victory. Regardless, I still have to thank you. If you hadn't found this pretext, I wouldn't have been able to get inside so easily."

"I have my own self-interest too," Wang Guan said seriously. "You're an outsider, so you don't grasp the preciousness of a Lion Ball King Zisha pot. A work by Master Pei Shimin is on the same level as a Gu Jingzhou pot—exceptionally rare. Both were famous for their imitations; Master Gu Jingzhou's imitation of a Mansheng pot was vivid and lifelike, while Master Pei Shimin was reputed as the second Chen Mingyuan. This shows their skills were comparable..."

Chen Mingyuan and Chen Mansheng were both preeminent masters of teapot artistry in the Qing Dynasty. At their level of skill, it was hard to claim one was definitively superior to the other. Moreover, both emphasized innovation and were the most renowned teapot masters of their time.

It was the same for Gu Jingzhou and Pei Shimin; from a technical standpoint, it was difficult to judge who was better. It was merely due to personal circumstance that Gu Jingzhou enjoyed louder fame.

Of course, that was the layman's view. In the eyes of an expert, any teapot made by these masters, regardless of who specifically crafted it, was a treasure worthy of collection and inheritance. If Wang Guan had the chance to acquire one, he certainly wouldn't turn it away.

While the two were chatting, Pei Hongquan returned to the room, smiling broadly. "Sorry to have kept you waiting."

As he spoke, Pei Hongquan immediately ushered them into his collection room.

The collection room was located on the second floor; the space was quite large, impeccably clean, and flooded with ample light. As he entered, Wang Guan scanned the room, his eyes showing a hint of awe.

Teapots of various shapes, yet radiating a soft luster, were arranged artfully on shelves. Under the sunlight, these Zisha pots possessed an indescribable vitality and spiritual charm, filled with a unique aesthetic beauty.

Even Xing Qiu, a complete novice, was momentarily transfixed upon seeing so many exquisitely crafted Zisha pots, studying them closely, finding the sight immensely pleasing.

The reaction of the two men was the best form of praise.

Regardless of whether the teapots on the shelves were Pei Hongquan's own creations, they were undoubtedly his collection. When one's possessions receive admiration from others, the host naturally shares in that pleasure, making him feel quite relaxed.

His mood instantly improved, and Pei Hongquan began to introduce them. "Young friends, take a look. These are my own works; these are pieces I've exchanged with friends..."

Like attracts like; since Pei Hongquan was a master, his friends were surely not ordinary either. As Wang Guan admired the display, he nodded, then suddenly asked, "Pardon me for asking, but you surely must have works by Master Pei Shimin here?" (To be continued)